Owner Defends Strip Club In Court

NEW BRITAIN — Accompanied by a small entourage of his employees, strip club owner John O'Neill was in court Monday to try to reopen his padlocked business.

O'Neill's attorney, Richard Brown of Hartford, told a judge in civil court that his client's club, Dee Dee's, is a legal business and should be allowed to operate so ``people of New Britain could make a choice.''

But after an hour spent listening to lawyers argue, neither side learned if Dee Dee's will be shut forever, as the state, city officials and some residents hope.

Judge Robert Holzberg said he first had to rule on a motion from O'Neill's attorney that the state criminal justice division had no jurisdiction to close down Dee Dee's. Both sides have until Thursday to file legal briefs on the question.

Authorities say they closed the club on May 1 on grounds that prostitution and drug sales made it a public nuisance. Police say patrons could buy sex, cocaine and beer at the club, which does not have a liquor license. Ten people were arrested in the raid. Another man was later charged with dealing cocaine from inside the club. That investigation continues.

Assistant state's attorney Christopher Mallany said no law prohibits the state from shutting the club. He said the procedure mirrors a new ``quality of life'' law effective July 1 that deals with ending public nuisances.

Brown said the order padlocking Dee Dee's is based on false allegations. He said O'Neill's employees were there to ``talk about Mr. O'Neill's strict control inside the club. Nothing illegal. Police did not find any cocaine inside.''

O'Neill, who was accompanied to court by two young women and a man, has suffered ``irreparable harm'' from the loss of his business, but he will continue to fight the state, Brown said. ``He's a battler.''

Behind the Dee Dee's employees sat Ellen Kiefer, member of the United Pentecostal Church. Kiefer said she hopes the congregation's prayers are answered and that the downtown club near their building is closed permanently.

``There's a loud ruckus outside the club at night,'' Kiefer said. ``People dragrace up and down. There's so many prostitutes and so many people with sexual problems. One night, one man tried to grab my daughter as we went to the car. She's just 10.''